On Monday evening I travelled with three friends to Minneapolis and spent the night in a hotel, then yesterday we went to the wonderful world of IKEA!! We spent hours shopping (mostly looking!), oohing and aahhing, and laughing and enjoying ourselves. We even had breakfast and lunch there. Breakfast was 99 cents and was a large plate full of eggs, bacon and hashbrowns, and lunch was only 1.99 and was a large plate of pasta and sauce. I could not finish either one, it was a lot of food!
I am still in awe over the hugeness of that one store, and the good prices and quality of most of their merchandise. I found a bed I would love to get, it was a metal-framed bed that had a vintage look to it, and it was only $149. Not bad for a bed! (Mattress not included, lol!) I also saw a couple of lovely light fixtures that I would really love to own. I walked around with my camera, gleefully snapping pictures, until an employee came up to me and said, "You cannot take pictures in THIS store!" I was quite surprised and a little embarrassed. I apologized, told her I didn't know, and she said there was a sign at the front of the store, which I didn't see. Oh well, live and learn.
After we were done at IKEA we went to the Mall of America. Oh, how I wish my kids could have been with us! We just walked around, looked at as much as we had time to see, and enjoyed ourselves. We went to the American Girl store and I wish my girls had been along, and we also went to the Lego store, and I wish my boys had been along! There were so many fun things to see, more than the eyes could take in. Plus the whole mall was beautifully decorated for Christmas. Fun!
Being in a big city made me realize once again how much I love and appreciate the rural life we live. Give me the tiny library, clinic, post office and grocery store any day! Visiting a city is fun but living in the city is definitely not for me!
I must also take a paragraph here and thank and praise the Lord for a much-needed break for me. My whole family pitched in and made this little trip possible. It's not easy for Mom to get away and it has been years since I have done something like this. I must confess that last week I was crying out to the Lord for a "calgon moment" because I was in dire need of a break. On Sunday a dear friend invited me along for this trip - and by Monday evening I was on my way! God is always so good to bear our yoke when we need it the most. Thank you, Lord!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Frank Edward Waslaski, Jr.
Eight years ago this month one of my brothers (the third-born in our family) died from Pancreatic Cancer. I knew very little about this disease until I got the awful phone call of his diagnosis. At first I thought my sister was being too negative when she said he would probably not be here for Thanksgiving that year, he was diagnosed on October 9th. But as he rapidly declined I knew she was right. She says it can be hard to be a nurse sometimes, because she usually knows the worst-case scenario.
So, let me tell you about Frank. We called him Little Frank, and Dad was Big Frank, even though he was much larger than our Dad. There are five kids in my family - my two oldest brothers Richard and Robert, then Frank, next comes my sister Mary, and I am the baby of the family. I've often thought since Frank's death that our family lost its mediator, the bridge to everyone else. He was close to all of us, and I suppose some of that came from being the middle child. I really don't know if there was anyone who didn't love Frank, he was the kind of man I like to classify as a cross between a hell's angel biker dude and a marshmallow-teddy bear.
The last couple years of his life Frank lived just ten minutes from me, and we talked on the phone almost every day. He'd call me up and ask, "What are you doing?" and I'd tell him, then he'd say, "Okay, goodbye!" and we'd laugh. He often brought his laundry over for me to wash, I still have the laundry bag he used. It was usually only two or three loads but it was most of the clothing he owned. He was very generous towards me, once he even financed a trip I took with my oldest brother and Peaches when she was a baby. We travelled to South Dakota to a family reunion and Frank paid for the gas and food. We stopped at all these little cafes along the way and had such a pleasant time together.
One time in high school, when someone had broken my heart, he threatened to do them bodily harm. I knew he would probably do it, so I didn't actually "sic" him on that person -but just knowing I had his love and protection and concern helped me through that difficult time.
I never thought I would see my big, strong brother become as weak as he did, but the cancer spread so quickly it was almost as though it was eating him alive. He fought back until the very end. He had just turned 42. I still miss him very much.
Dad had died two years before Frank, and Frank's death was much harder on Mom than Dad's had been. Frankie took a piece of her with him when he died and she was never quite the same. I suppose it is that way with all mothers when they lose a child. I was thankful Dad did not have to watch his son suffer so much. I don't think Dad would have handled it well.
A day or so before he died I was spending time in his room, he was past the point of talking much but did respond to take pain medication and to voices. We knew the end was near. I reminded him that God's word makes it very clear that we can only have eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. I quoted a couple of my favorite verses, Ephesians 2:8&9 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." I prayed with him and encouraged him to make sure that he was ready to meet the Saviour. I'm trusting God that one day I will get to see the ones I love and miss so much who have gone before me. What a family reunion that will be!!
So, let me tell you about Frank. We called him Little Frank, and Dad was Big Frank, even though he was much larger than our Dad. There are five kids in my family - my two oldest brothers Richard and Robert, then Frank, next comes my sister Mary, and I am the baby of the family. I've often thought since Frank's death that our family lost its mediator, the bridge to everyone else. He was close to all of us, and I suppose some of that came from being the middle child. I really don't know if there was anyone who didn't love Frank, he was the kind of man I like to classify as a cross between a hell's angel biker dude and a marshmallow-teddy bear.
The last couple years of his life Frank lived just ten minutes from me, and we talked on the phone almost every day. He'd call me up and ask, "What are you doing?" and I'd tell him, then he'd say, "Okay, goodbye!" and we'd laugh. He often brought his laundry over for me to wash, I still have the laundry bag he used. It was usually only two or three loads but it was most of the clothing he owned. He was very generous towards me, once he even financed a trip I took with my oldest brother and Peaches when she was a baby. We travelled to South Dakota to a family reunion and Frank paid for the gas and food. We stopped at all these little cafes along the way and had such a pleasant time together.
One time in high school, when someone had broken my heart, he threatened to do them bodily harm. I knew he would probably do it, so I didn't actually "sic" him on that person -but just knowing I had his love and protection and concern helped me through that difficult time.
I never thought I would see my big, strong brother become as weak as he did, but the cancer spread so quickly it was almost as though it was eating him alive. He fought back until the very end. He had just turned 42. I still miss him very much.
Dad had died two years before Frank, and Frank's death was much harder on Mom than Dad's had been. Frankie took a piece of her with him when he died and she was never quite the same. I suppose it is that way with all mothers when they lose a child. I was thankful Dad did not have to watch his son suffer so much. I don't think Dad would have handled it well.
A day or so before he died I was spending time in his room, he was past the point of talking much but did respond to take pain medication and to voices. We knew the end was near. I reminded him that God's word makes it very clear that we can only have eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. I quoted a couple of my favorite verses, Ephesians 2:8&9 - "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." I prayed with him and encouraged him to make sure that he was ready to meet the Saviour. I'm trusting God that one day I will get to see the ones I love and miss so much who have gone before me. What a family reunion that will be!!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Disappointments
I have not wanted to post the last week or so. We've had some disappointments lately and quite frankly, I've been a little down. But sometimes it helps me to write, so, here goes...
First off, I'm disappointed in the election results. I'm concerned for our country. But I have been thinking of the song, "The Solid Rock" - "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness ~ I dare not trust the sweetest 'frain, but wholly lean on Jesus' Name ~ On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand." So, if you too are tending to worry about the future, sing with me! And let's all remember to pray for our country and future new President.
Disappointment # 2 ~ Last Friday Kyle found out (somewhat by default) that a manager has been hired for the Moorhead airport. *Sigh* Oh well. We are puzzled, because they so enthusiastically interviewed him - but then never let him know either way even though he called them to inquire. It was very unprofessional of them to leave him hanging like that. They had all his contact information - phone numbers, email, snail-mail - so at the very least it would have been better to get a rejection letter. However, we prayed that God's will be done in all this and we have to trust that He, for whatever reason, did not have this in His plan for Kyle. Our oldest son, Pickles, asked us if it seemed sometimes that God was "taunting" us. I was a little surprised he asked that, but at the same time I'd rather have the kids see us go through things like this, and still rely on the Lord for the outcome. So it was a good opportunity to explain to him that we'd prayed for God's will, this must not have been within His will, and although we are disappointed it would be wrong to allow ourselves to become angry or bitter. And there is always the possibility that God was preventing us from getting into a bad situation. So, we told our son that we will "count our blessings" and thank God that Kyle has a good job right now, he's not unemployed, we have a nice home in a lovely town, and our health, and a wonderful church, lots of friends and family...the list goes on.
And this brings me to the last thing, although in the end this is not really a disappointment, but a relief. Kyle decided we should not move at this time and when he told me that, a lot of stress rolled right off me. I was dreading packing and moving and all that entails. Gas prices are down, so that has been a huge help to our budget. In the long run, it might make financial sense to live closer to where he works - but in the short run, we simply cannot afford all the expenses of moving right now. Now let's all hope and pray that gas remains below $2 a gallon, like we saw last night!!
First off, I'm disappointed in the election results. I'm concerned for our country. But I have been thinking of the song, "The Solid Rock" - "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness ~ I dare not trust the sweetest 'frain, but wholly lean on Jesus' Name ~ On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand." So, if you too are tending to worry about the future, sing with me! And let's all remember to pray for our country and future new President.
Disappointment # 2 ~ Last Friday Kyle found out (somewhat by default) that a manager has been hired for the Moorhead airport. *Sigh* Oh well. We are puzzled, because they so enthusiastically interviewed him - but then never let him know either way even though he called them to inquire. It was very unprofessional of them to leave him hanging like that. They had all his contact information - phone numbers, email, snail-mail - so at the very least it would have been better to get a rejection letter. However, we prayed that God's will be done in all this and we have to trust that He, for whatever reason, did not have this in His plan for Kyle. Our oldest son, Pickles, asked us if it seemed sometimes that God was "taunting" us. I was a little surprised he asked that, but at the same time I'd rather have the kids see us go through things like this, and still rely on the Lord for the outcome. So it was a good opportunity to explain to him that we'd prayed for God's will, this must not have been within His will, and although we are disappointed it would be wrong to allow ourselves to become angry or bitter. And there is always the possibility that God was preventing us from getting into a bad situation. So, we told our son that we will "count our blessings" and thank God that Kyle has a good job right now, he's not unemployed, we have a nice home in a lovely town, and our health, and a wonderful church, lots of friends and family...the list goes on.
And this brings me to the last thing, although in the end this is not really a disappointment, but a relief. Kyle decided we should not move at this time and when he told me that, a lot of stress rolled right off me. I was dreading packing and moving and all that entails. Gas prices are down, so that has been a huge help to our budget. In the long run, it might make financial sense to live closer to where he works - but in the short run, we simply cannot afford all the expenses of moving right now. Now let's all hope and pray that gas remains below $2 a gallon, like we saw last night!!
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